Hotel chain hires private investigators to 'steal' beds

A lot of hotel guests have made off with those mini shampoo bottles, some maybe even a robe or two –– but the mattress?

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Hotel chain hires private investigators to 'steal' beds

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At first look, we weren't sure if these photos were legit. Fox News reports the photos are real, but the robbery –– that's the fake part.

Guests of budget hotel chain Premier Inn loved the beds and mentioned wanting to steal them - so many guests, in fact, the hotel hired a team of private investigators to attempt mattress theft at 10 of its United Kingdom locations.

After hearing about this story, we did some digging of our own as to what hotels are doing to prevent thefts.

While not as flashy as stealing a bed, more hotels are concerned with the high costs of replacing textiles. That's why in 2011 two companies partnered to invent towels, sheets and robes embedded with traceable microchips.

And some hotels around the world started adding sensors to their minibars when they realized beverages could simply be refilled with water. As The Wall Street Journal reports, though, those sensors can sometimes be a little too sensitive.

One guest in a Chicago hotel recalled when he accidentally bumped into one: "The minibar thought I ate everything in it." That led to a whopping $700 charge that the hotel later reversed.

Still, hiring private investigators to prevent mattress theft? It may seem a little extreme until you take a look at The Telegraph's list of most extreme hotel thefts.

Making the list was a stuffed boar, a fireplace and, well, everything. One instance involved the guests requesting a room near the parking lot, then filling a U-Haul with everything the room had to offer.
Guests aren't the only thieves, though. It's nightmarish to have your belongings stolen when you're supposed to be relaxing. Thankfully, USA Today has tips for guests.

The most interesting tip was using "diversion safes." Taking the approach of hiding something in plain sight, these safes are designed to look and feel like everyday objects, such as shaving cream cans or hair brushes, but have empty interiors for money, watches and jewelry.

With technology and tricks this good for both hotels and guests, maybe the only thing left to steal is the bed. In that case, we know which hotel chain is ready with a big "I told you so ... "